Hinge cover box



W. J. VINCENT HINGE COVER BOX Sept. 14, 1937.

Filed Oct. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T N E V W mwmsg ATTORNEY w. J. VINCENT HINGE COVER BOX Sept. 14, 1937.

Filed Oct. 3. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE The William Carter Company,

Needham Heights, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 3, 1935, Serial No. 43,366

5 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes with hinged covers, and it pertains particularly to a novel construction of a hinge member connecting the cover and base of the box, which is more durable than prior hinges of a similar nature, and which is efiective to support the cover in open position to display advertising matter disposed on the inner surface of the cover.

Heretofore in the manufacture of boxes of the hinge-cover type, it has not been uncommon to hinge the cover to the base of the box by utilizing a strip of cardboard or similar material attached to or integral with both the cover and base of the box, which strip is adapted to bend intermediate its width and thereby to act as a hinge, member upon which the cover pivots about the base. Such hinges are notoriously weak and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge of this character which is so constructed and connected to the base and cover of the box that a limited yielding movement of certain parts associated with the hinge joint is effected upon the initiation of strains on the hinge joint during bending back of the cover, which flexing movement efiectively relieves the hinge joint of a large portion of such strains.

It is desirable and customary to display goods on store counters in the containers in which they are sold, and to afford means for advertising the goods which are thus on display by printing advertising or descriptive matter on the inher face of the cover which is displayed to view when the cover is opened and bent back at an w obtuse angle with the base of the box. Hinges which have been employed heretofore on such boxes have not been. of sufiiciently sturdy construction to afiord durable support for the cover in such display position, frequently necessitating the use of side stays of various sorts, and it is a further object of the present invention to pro- .vide a hinge member which alone efiectively supstrip from which my novel hinge element is made;

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views indicating two steps in my novel method of making the hinge element;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view indicating the position assumed by the hinge elements when the two leaves of the hinge are in alignment with each other; 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views indicating further steps in my novel method of construction and particularly the steps of securing the hinge to the base and cover of the box respectively; r

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which my hinge element yields under the strain of supporting the cover in its display position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the manner in which the base and hinge yield under abnormal strains;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing the box in closed position; and

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view indicating the manner of covering the rear corners of the base of the box.

As indicated in Fig. 1, wherein I have illustrated a complete box made in accordance with my invention, the base I of the box has four sides, indicated respectively at 2, 3, 4 and 5, to which base is attached a cover 6 secured to the rear side 5 of the base by means of my novel hinge member which is indicated generally at ID. The cover 6, like the base I, is formed with four sides indicated respectively at I2, [3, l4 and I5, (see also Figs. 7 and 8). The cover 6 is shown in bent back position to display the advertising matter disposed on the under-surface of the top H of the cover.

Referring now to Figs. 2-4 inclusive, the hinge element H] which I employ to connect, pivotally, the top and base of the box, comprises a strip of cardboard of a length equal approximately to the width of the box, ofa width or height equal approximately to the height of the rear side 5 of the base and of suitable'thickness. A strip of cardboard of such dimensions is marked longitudinally as by scoring or creasing, approximately midway of the width of the strip, as indicated at 2|, to define apair of substantially equal hinge leaves 22 and 23. As is well known, such scoring or creasing permits ready bending of the cardboard strip, and, after 'the scoring, I bend the strip backwardly, as indicated in Fig. 4, about the joint formed by the 55 scoring, until it assumes the angle which is approximately that which it will assume when the cover is in the desired display position illustrated in Fig. 1. While the hinge leaves 22 and 23 are held in this bent position, I secure over the score line 2|, a reinforcing element comprising a strip of sturdy paper or cloth or other reinforcing material, of a length equal to the length of the hinge and of a suitable width, perhaps somewhat less than the width of the hinge strip 20. The strip 25 is bent intermediate its side edges and is superimposed over the hinge leaves 22 and 23 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, to which it is secured in any suitable manner, such as by the use of an adhesive. 7

The box proper which may. in the meantime have been constructed, comprises, as stated above, a cover and base, both having four side walls. constructed of cardboard, are customarily covered with a layer of decorative paper to enhance the appearance of the box. In constructing a box in accordance with. my'invention, the cover of the box is provided with its decorative paper covering prior to the attachment of the hinge member, but the stepof covering the base of the box is deferred until after the hinge is attached. The hinge is attached first to the uncovered base of the box by rivets passing through both the bottom leaf 23 of the hinge and the rear wall 5 of the base of the box as shown in Fig. 6. In the box illustrated I have indicated three rivets used for this purpose (see Fig. 1) and it will be noted that these rivets are disposed along a line which is somewhat remote from but substantially parallel to the score line 2| forming the joint of the hinge and this line is also at a substantial distance above the bottom edge 3| of the hinge leaf 23. By this construction a slight flexing of the lower leaf 23 of the hinge is permitted in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter to be described. I 1

Thereafter the base of the box, with the hinge member thus applied, is subjected to a wrapping operation of any suitable type well known in the art for securing a decorative paper layer I 32'around all four sides, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the base and also,'if desired, over the bottom surface of the base of the box. It will be noted from Fig. 6 that during this wrapping operation the decorative cover 32 is applied over the hinge which has been secured to the back wall 5 of the base of the box. As indicated in Fig. 11, the wrapper includes a rear portion 40 which covers the hinge, which portion is secured to the hinge by adhesive and is provided with a corner flap 38 secured to the outer surface of the side wall 3 of the box prior to' the covering of the wall 3 with th e side portion 31 of the wrapper. To permit the above noted slight flexing movement of the lower leaf '32 of the hinge during the bending back of the cover, I provide a slit 39 between the cover portion 40 and the flap 38 whereby to permit such flexing withou tearing the corner of the wrapper. g,

After this wrapping operation, the box is assembled, as indicated in Fig. 7, by securing the upper leaf 22 of the hinge 'to the inner surface of the rear wall [5 of the cover, which cover has previously been wrapped, as indicated'at 34. In this operation the joint of the hinge is disposed in proximity to'the lower edge 50 of the wall 15 of the cover and in such a position rela-' tive thereto that the edge 50 will abut the leaf Such box members, particularly whenv display position as illustrated in Fig. 8. Rivets passing through the upper leaf 22 of the hinge and the rear wall l5 of the cover are employed for securing these elements together in the position above described, and, if desired, I may provide the same number of rivets 35 as there were rivets 30. The box is then. complete and ready for use.

A box which is constructed inthe manner above described is remarkably durable, particularly in its hinge construction, and provides a cover which is readily supported in open or display position without requiring side stays or the like. Thus, as indicated by a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, the manner of securing the reinforcing strip 25 to the hinge while the leaves of the hinge are bent to the position which they will assume when the cover is fully' opened, eliminates all strain in the reinforcing strip 25 until the cover is bent back to'its'. full open position. Indeed, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 10, when the hinge is straightened to the position which the leaves assurne when the box is closed, there is a slight compression of the reinforcing strip 25 along a line parallel with the joint 2| of the hinge which produces a slight bulge in the reinforcing strip, as indicated at 26.

When the cover is opened to its display posi-. tion the tensioning of the portion 26 of the strip 25 acts to restrain further opening of the cover.

With the hinge secured to the box in the manner above'described, the edge 50 of the wall [5 of the cover will move toward the joint of the hinge when the cover is opened and when the cover reaches its display position of Fig. 1 the edge 50 abuts against both of the hinge leaves 22 and 23. I As a result of this abutting position of the end 50 of the side wall of the cover, and of the simultaneous tensioning of the portion 26 of the reinforcing strip 25, further pivoting of the hinge leaves 22 and 23 toward each other is restrained and the strain of supporting the cover 6 in' this position is relieved by a resultant slight flexing of the lower leaf 23 ofthe hinge about the line of pivots 30, as shown in Fig. 8.

I have illustrated in Fig. 9 the manner in which the elements of the box and hinge flex when abnormal strains are induced therein, such as would result from forcing the cover directly back until it approaches a horizontal position. As therein indicated, under such abnormal strain the lower leaf 23 of the hinge continues to flex about the pivots 30 and the strain on the leaf 23 of the hinge is thereupon relieved by a flexing of the rear wall 5 of the box until it assumes the position indicated at 5A. If the cover of the box is of a rather heavy construction, there may be a slight flexing of the rear wall 5 when the cover is merely being supported in its display or fully open position and by this construction I provide for a flexing movement both of the hinge When the box is closed, the parts assume the position illustrated in Fig. 10 and it will be noted that in this-position the upper edge 40 of the rear wall 5 of the base of the box forms an additional support for the top portion I I of the cover.

I claim: 1 1 1. As an article of manufacture, a box having a base with side walls, a cover with side walls and a hinge member pivotally connecting adjafor relative pivotal movement, and the said leaves being secured to adjacent side walls of the cover and base of the box in position to dispose the edge of the side wall of the cover in abutment with both leaves when the cover is opened to a predetermined angle.

2. As an article of manufacture, a box having a base with side walls, a cover with side walls and a hinge member pivotally connecting adjacent side walls of the cover and base, the said hinge member comprising a pair of leaves jointed for relative pivotal movement and having secured thereto means to restrain pivoting of one leaf about the other beyond a predetermined angle, one of said leaves being secured to the base of the box along a line remote from, but parallel to, the joint between said leaves and the other of said leaves being secured to the inside surface of a side wall of the cover in position to dispose the edge of said side wall of the cover in abutment with both leaves when the cover is opened to the said predetermined angle whereby to restrain further pivotal movement of the leaves and to initiate a flexing of the leaf attached to the base.

3. As an article of manufacture, a box having a base member and a cover member, one of said members having a side wall, a hinge member connecting said cover and base members and having a pivot line, said hinge member being secured to the outside of said side wall along a line remote from said pivot line to permit flexure of said hinge member relative to said side wall at points between said pivot line and. said securing line when the cover member is opened beyond an approximate predetermined angle with the base member, whereby to relieve tension strains along said pivot line.

4. As an article of manufacture, a box having a base with a side wall, a cover, means pivotally connecting said cover to said base, and. means associated with said pivotal means adapted to restrain the pivotal movement of the cover about the base beyond -an approximate predetermined angle, said pivotal means being secured to the outside of said side wall along a line remote from the pivot line of said pivotal means to permit flexure of said pivotal means relative to said side wall at points below the said pivot line when the cover is pivoted beyond said predetermined angle.

5. As an article of manufacture, a box having a base with side walls, a cover with side walls, and a hinge member comprising a pair of leaves jointed for relative pivotal movement, one of said leaves being attached to the inside of a side wall of said cover and the other of said leaves being attached to the outside of an adjacent side wall of said base, and a reinforcing member secured to each of said leaves, and having a surplusage of material between its securing points,

said surplusage becoming taut as said leaves reach a predetermined angle to restrain further pivoting of said hinge.

WILLIAM J. VINCENT. 

